Biomimetic Membranes with Transmembrane Proteins: State-of-the-Art in Transmembrane Protein Applications

Abstract

In biological cells, membrane proteins are the most crucial component for the maintenance of cell physiology and processes, including ion transportation, cell signaling, cell adhesion, and recognition of signal molecules. Therefore, researchers have proposed a number of membrane platforms to mimic the biological cell environment for transmembrane protein incorporation. The performance and selectivity of these transmembrane proteins based biomimetic platforms are far superior to those of traditional material platforms, but their lack of stability and scalability rule out their commercial presence. This review highlights the development of transmembrane protein-based biomimetic platforms for four major applications, which are biosensors, molecular interaction studies, energy harvesting, and water purification. We summarize the fundamental principles and recent progress in transmembrane protein biomimetic platforms for each application, discuss their limitations, and present future outlooks for industrial implementation.

Electrochemical Biosensors Based on Membrane-Bound Enzymes in Biomimetic Configurations

“…The number of reported electrochemical biosensors based on membrane-bound enzymes is still quite low when compared to those based on soluble enzymes, even if, in nature, the amount of enzymes of the first kind that catalyze reactions of interest in sensing is large [3,5,57]. Therefore, we think that there is a great potential for increasing research in this particular field.…”

“…Reconstituted membrane enzymes play an important role in several fields, such as medicine, analytical chemistry, alternatives energies, and materials development [57]. One of the main problems for the application of these enzymes is their denaturation and loss of catalytic activity when they are not in the native-like environments [3].…”

“…The storage stability was good with 83.5% of the initial response was retained after five weeks, which indicated sufficient binding between the three components that were deposited on the electrode that minimized leaching [90]. There are many studies of electrochemical biosensors that are based on transmembrane proteins reconstituted on phospholipid bilayers supported on electrodes, although the vast majority comprises ion-transport proteins or olfactory receptors, not enzymes [57]. However, a very interesting transmembrane enzyme for biosensing is ATP-synthase or ATPase.…”

“…Guan et al developed an electrochemical biosensor for organophosphorus pesticides formed by layer-by-layer deposition of chitosan (a biocompatible polymer) and spherical shell liposomes containing acetylcholinesterase (AChE) [95]. AChE is a transmembrane enzyme that is part of the nervous system, in which it maintains the level of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine by catalyzing its hydrolysis into thiocholine [57]. Porins were added to the liposomes that were deposited on the electrode to allow the entrance of AChE substrate and pesticide inhibitor.…”

“…There are many studies of electrochemical biosensors that are based on transmembrane proteins reconstituted on phospholipid bilayers supported on electrodes, although the vast majority comprises ion-transport proteins or olfactory receptors, not enzymes [ 57 ]. However, a very interesting transmembrane enzyme for biosensing is ATP-synthase or ATPase.…”